“Clear Floor Space” Guidelines for Accessible Bathrooms

In order for a person using a walker or wheelchair to successfully approach and use all the bathroom amenities (toilet, sink, shower, bathtub, closet, window controls, light switches, etc.), sufficient Clear Floor Space must be present:

adjacent to each fixture/amenity

in the center of the room (“Turning Space”)

by the door (“Door Clearance”)

In this guide you’ll find the minimum Clear Floor Space dimensions required for meeting the needs of a standard manual wheelchair user (per US National Accessibility Standards). You will also find minimum recommended dimensions for meeting the needs of persons using a larger mobility device, such as electric wheelchairs, scooters, and reclining wheelchairs.

There are no specific design standards for walker users. When creating design plans for walker users, it is important to be aware that a walker does not protect a person when they are walking backwards, therefore the design plans should include ample clear floor space for a walker user to enter the bathroom, approach all bathroom fixtures, turn around, and exit the bathroom moving forwards. Space permitting, at a minimum, we generally recommend using the design specifications identified below for a manual wheelchair user because these dimensions will provide ample space for most walker users to move around freely and in the event a person’s mobility skills were to decline further with increasing age, the bathroom would be prepared to accomodate a wheelchair, if needed.

It is important to note that the “minimum” design standards for making a bathroom wheelchair accessible identified below, should by no means be considered “ideal” design standards. Imagine for a moment that you are attempting to parallel park your car in a super tight parking space. This is essentially what it is like for persons using a wheeled mobility device to maneuver around inside of a confined space that just barely meets accessibility guidelines. Clearly, nobody who relies on a wheelchair wants to be forced to go through an experience equivalent to parking a car in a super tight parking space each and every time they need to use the toilet in their home! Being able to access the bathroom is critical to a person being able to remain independent, so it is always better to err on the side of including more clear floor space in the bathroom than too little clear floor space.

If you can afford the space, at a minimum we recommend to use the “preferred specs” identified below for electric wheelchairs, scooters, and reclining wheelchairs when designing a bathroom because this helps to better ensure the home will support all occupants regardless of age or ability.

It is also important to be aware that if you are remodeling an existing living space for a wheelchair user and the architectural barriers do not permit meeting the minimum clear floor standards, it does not definitively mean you should cast aside the remodeling project as a lost cause. Some wheelchair users have smaller wheelchairs or better skills for maneuvering their wheelchair, which in some cases may allow them to eek by with less than the minimum recommended specifications below. The ability to make do with less space, needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The layout & design specifications identified in this guide are intended for use as rough, general guidelines. These guidelines will not be sufficient for meeting all individual’s needs. When designing a space for an individual, always begin by measuring the mobility device occupied by the person, watching how the person maneuvers with it, and then making your design plans to best fit the person’s unique needs and personal preferences.

ADA and ANSI Specs at Home?

The abbreviations ADA/ADAAG (Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) are used throughout this guide. If you’re new to accessible design, you may wonder what ADAAG (“ADA”) and ANSI building standards are used for and, in particular, whether they legally have to be followed in the United States when adding accessibility features to a private home. The short answer is: No. Usually they do not have to be followed at home, as they are meant for public spaces and businesses. A few exceptions may exist in cases where government funding is used for the home modifications.

Though it is not mandatory to follow ADA and ANSI guidelines when building or modifying a residential home, they are still a helpful reference point to use when designing a space for someone with accessibility needs. It is important, however, to understand that they are guidelines, which identify the parameters that are required to make public spaces accessible for the “average” person with accessibility needs. These guidelines are not sufficient nor adequate for meeting all individual’s needs. Therefore, when you are designing a home for an individual, it is important to confirm the design plans truly meet the individual’s needs (within the parameters of local building codes).

Clear Floor Space Adjacent to Fixtures

Most wheelchair users will require the following Clear Floor Space dimensions to be present adjacent to each fixture or amenity:

The following two illustrations show how clear floor space can be oriented so it will allow a wheelchair user to directly face the fixture (“forwards” approach, shown on the left) or sit sideways beside it (“parallel” approach, shown on right):

The “best” orientation for the clear floor space will depend on the type of fixture, functional task performed in the space, the person’s skills, and the space allowances in the bathroom. For example,

For a sink, it is usually much more comfortable for a seated user to sit facing the sink with the feet positioned underneath. However, if space does not permit this, it is “possible” for a wheelchair user to park sideways beside a sink and use it. Keep in mind though that this will force a wheelchair user to always lean awkwardly sideways to perform all grooming and hygiene tasks at the sink.

For a cabinet or closet, it is usually better for a wheelchair user to have space to pull up sideways beside the shelves because they can reach further into the closet and can access higher storage shelves inside.

For a toilet, the best space for the clear floor space will depend on the type of transfer technique the user prefers. Many people need or prefer to transfer by parking their chair beside the toilet and sliding from the wheelchair seat sideways onto the toilet seat. Others need or prefer to pull up the front of the wheelchair to the front of the toilet from a specific angle (e.g., frontally or at a 90 degree angle), then perform a stand-pivot turn from the wheelchair seat to the toilet seat.

The key take-away here is that it’s important to understand the type of fixture the clear floor space is optimized for, as well as the needs of the user, prior to selecting how/where the clear floor space will be oriented adjacent to each fixture.

Door Clearance

Opening and closing a door is one of the more difficult mobility tasks a wheelchair user must perform. It often requires a significant amount of awkward maneuvering back and forth, especially if the space around the door is limited.

In the case that the bathroom is small, it is usually best to design it so the door opens outwards into the hallway – provided the door won’t create a hazard for the walking traffic in the hallway outside. If it is not possible to design the bathroom so the door swing outwards, make certain to provide sufficient floor space inside the bathroom so the person can open and close the door when their mobility aid is inside.

In the case of an inward-opening door, clear floor space must be present right next to – but outside of – the path of the door swing. This is shown here:

The specifications for the minimum clear floor space in terms of width and length (W x L) are the same as that for the floor space adjacent to bathroom fixtures. That is, at a bare minimum, plan W x L to be 30″ x 48″ for a standard manual wheelchair user (per ADA/ANSI), and 34″ x 58″ for the user of an electric wheelchair or scooter or reclining wheelchair. The preferred dimension for these two scenarios are 34″ x 58″ and 36″ x 60″, respectively. For an overview of these dimensions, refer to Table 1 (above).

Floor Space by Door Latch

In the case of an inward-opening door, adequate clear floor space must also be present by the wall beside the door handle (the door’s “latch-side”). This allows a person using a wheelchair with footrests attached to the front of it to park the wheelchair’s footrests angled off to the side of the door as necessary to be able to reach the door handle and door lock. The recommended minimum width of the floor space required beside the door will vary based on the person’s mobility skills, the type of mobility device the person uses, the approach pathway the user must take, and the room’s dimensions as per what follows:

Front Approach

The subsequent illustration sheds light on a scenario referred to as the “Front Approach”. In the Front Approach, the room is assumed to be “narrow” and “deep” as viewed from the door. In the illustration, the person is about the leave the room. To unlock and open the door, the person approaches the door frontally in the direction of the yellow arrow and eventually turns diagonally towards the wall marked “X”. Being able to park the wheelchair at an angle, makes it possible for a wheelchair user to reach the door lock and handle. Once the door is unlatched, the person retraces the incoming path in a backwards direction, while holding on to the door handle and thereby opening the door. (To close the door when arriving in the bathroom, the order of steps is reversed.)

FIGURE 3: Clear Floor Space By Door Latch for “Front Approach”. For dimensions X and Y of the required clear floor space, refer to the following table (Table 2).

In order for such a “narrow”-“deep” room to be accessible and to allow opening & closing of the door, the following minimum dimensions have to be met for the walls marked with “X” and “Y” – or more precisely, the minimum required width X of the wall next to the door latch and the minimum “depth” Y of clear floor space between the closed door and any obstructions:

Standard manual wheelchair

Electric wheelchair, scooter, reclining wheelchair

minimum dimensions (X,Y)

Y ≥ 60”,X ≥ 18”,(ADA/ANSI)

Y ≥ 70”, X ≥ 24”

preferred dimensions (X,Y)

Y ≥ 70”, X ≥ 24”

Y ≥ 70”X ≥ 30”

TABLE 2: Clear floor space by door latch for Front Approach.

Hinge-Side Approach

The subsequent illustration is for what is called the “Hinge-Side Approach”. As seen from the door, the bathroom is “wide” and “shallow”. In this scenario, the user will approach the door following the yellow arrow. In contrast to what was possible in the “deep” bathroom layout (“Front Approach”), the user will find it difficult or impossible here to back the wheelchair up and out of the path of the door swing while pulling the door open. Therefore, in the Hinge-Side Approach, there must be adequate floor space to park the entire wheelchair beside the door handle (by wall marked “X”), out of the path of the door swing:

FIGURE 4: Clear Floor Space By Door Latch for “Hinge-Side Approach”. For dimensions X and Y of the required clear floor space, refer to the following table (Table 3).

Even when wall X adjacent to the door fits the entire width of the wheelchair, the depth of the room Y must nevertheless have a certain minimum dimension, too. The following Table gives an overview of required dimensions X and Y for the Hinge-Side Approach:

Standard manual wheelchair

Electric wheelchair, scooter, reclining wheelchair

minimum dimensions (X,Y)

Y ≥ 54”,X ≥ 42”(based on ADA/ANSI)

Y ≥ 64”,X ≥ 48”

preferred dimensions (X,Y)

Y ≥ 70”,X ≥ 42”

Y ≥ 80”,X ≥ 48”

TABLE 3: Clear floor space by door latch for Hinge-Side Approach.

Turning Space

The Turning Space refers to an important area that should typically be located close to the center of the bathroom and that allows users to turn around. This space makes it possible for a person to both enter into the bathroom and exit the bathroom in a forward-moving direction and to move easily between various bathroom fixtures. The “minimum” turning space a user requires will vary based on the size of their mobility device as well as on their coordination and maneuvering skills. In general, there are two alternative design approaches for providing Turning Space:

Either, include enough space to accommodate a 360-degree Turning Circle (the easiest means of turning around).

Or, if there is not enough room for a circular space, provide a T-shaped Turning Space.

360-Degree Turning Circle

For the 360-Degree Turning Circle, refer to the following illustration and table for the minimum recommended diameters that will allow most persons using a wheeled mobility device to turn around 360 degrees:

FIGURE 5: 360-Degree Turning Space (or “Turning Circle”). Only minimum diameters for standard manual wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are shown; see the following Table for a complete overview.

Standard manual wheelchair

Electric wheelchair, scooter, reclining wheelchair

minimum diameter

60″ (per ADAAG/ANSI)

94″

preferred diameter

≥ 70″

> 94″

TABLE 4: Sizes of 360-Degree Turning Circle

T-shaped Turning Space

If a full Turning Circle cannot be accommodated in the available space, a T-shaped Turning Space might still offer a viable solution. As illustrated in the following diagram, the T-shaped turning approach allows a person to travel along the base of the T (Step 1), turn with their wheelchair into one of the arms (Step 2), then reverse into the other arm (Step 3), turn and travel back down the base of the T facing the opposite direction (Step 4):

FIGURE 6: U-Turn in 4 Steps using T-shaped Turning Space.

For the minimum sizes of the T (“base” and “arms”) that work well for most wheelchair users, please refer to the following illustration and Table:

FIGURE 7: T-shaped Turning Space. Dimensions in black are minimums for manual wheelchairs, dimensions in gray are minimums for electric wheelchairs, scooters, and reclining wheelchairs. See Table 5 for more details.

Standard manual wheelchair

Electric wheelchair, scooter, reclining wheelchair

minimum dimensions

The T-shaped space should reside within a 60″ square minimum with arms and base 36″ wide (ADA/ANSI)

The T-shaped space should reside within a 94″ square minimum with arms and base minimum 40″ wide.

preferred dimensions

Implement the T-shaped space minimums specified for the electric wheelchairs.

If you’re designing a new bathroom from scratch, make sure to include sufficient space to allow a full 360 degree turn, ideally by providing a circular turning space. If you’re remodeling an existing small bathroom, it may be challenging or even impossible to include enough clear floor space for allowing a person to turn around inside the bathroom with their walker or wheelchair. In this case, at the very least try to incorporate as much floor space as possible by using the section “Tips and Tricks to Increase Clear Floor Space” found below.

FIGURE 8: Overlapping Floor Space in an Accessible Bathroom.

The following overlaps are ok:

The Clear Floor Space that’s required adjacent to each bathroom fixture (e.g. 30” x 48”) can overlap with one another. In the illustration, the floor space rectangles assigned to the toilet and sink, each subtly indicated with partial blue shading, overlap with each other.

The Clear Floor Space by the door (yellow-shaded rectangle) may overlap with the Clear Floor Spaces by the fixtures and/or the Turning Space.

A toilet and sink may also overlap the Turning Space if there is adequate space for the wheelchair user’s footrests and/or knees to pass underneath – e.g., owing to a wall-hung sink or wall-hung toilet. In the illustration, the Turning Circle is slightly overlapping with the front tip of the toilet, assuming some free space under a suitable toilet type.

However, under no circumstances should the Clear Floor Space by the door (yellow shaded rectangle) overlap with the (red-shaded) door swing. As explained above, that would prevent the bathroom user from closing and opening the door and from parking the mobility aid inside the room.

Tips & Tricks to Increase Floor Space

Following are examples of techniques that can be used to effectively increase the usable clear floor space in the bathroom:

Wall-Hung Sink: Installing a wall-hung sink can increase clear floor space for a wheelchair user by up to 25-30 inches. A wheelchair user’s legs and the wheelchair’s leg rests can pass underneath the sink, allowing them to benefit from the open floor space below the sink when turning around inside the bathroom.

Wall-Mounted Toilet: Selecting a wall-hung toilet model with the tank portion stored inside the bathroom wall can increase usable floor space for a walker or wheelchair user by approximately 10-12 inches, depending on the toilet model. A wall-mounted toilet can also allow a wheelchair’s footrests to pass underneath the bowl, thereby increasing usable clear floor space for a wheelchair user by approximately another 6 inches. Be aware that some wheelchairs have elevated leg rests, so not all wheelchair users will be able to benefit from the extra space available “underneath” the toilet.

Toe Kick: Install the vanity and cupboards with a toe kick that’s a minimum of 9” above the floor and 6″ deep. This can increase clear floor space for a wheelchair user by as much as 6” by making it possible for the footrests to pass underneath the cabinets. Be aware that wheelchair users who have elevated leg rests will not be able to benefit from the extra space available “underneath” the cabinet.

Curbless Shower: If a curbless (zero threshold) shower is provided, the shower floor can be exploited as “turning space” by a person using a walker, rollator, or wheelchair, making it easier to move and turn around inside the bathroom.

Reverse Door Swing: Reversing the bathroom door so it swings out into the hallway, or installing a pocket door, can increase clear floor space inside the bathroom for a person using a mobility aid by as much as 26-36 inches depending on the bathroom door’s width.

Automatic Door Opener: If you are truly pressed for space, installing an electric door opener can be a potential substitute for providing the 18” (or more) of clear floor space adjacent to the door handle that a wheelchair user requires to be able to reach the door handle and lock. “If” space allows, however, it is always best practice to include clear floor space beside the door handle, so the door can be opened manually in the event the automatic door opener fails.

Partially merge Bathroom and Bedroom with Double Doors In-between: If the bathroom is positioned beside a bedroom, open up the wall between the bedroom and bathroom and add double doors. This way, a person using a walker or wheelchair can move and turn around more easily and freely, making use of the floor space in both rooms. (See example below.)

FIGURE 9: By opening up the walls between bathroom and adjacent bedroom and installing double doors, the usable clear floor space of a small bathroom can be substantially increased. (This illustration is an example only. Many variations are possible.).

Building New: If building a new home, combine two rooms into one room to open up more clear floor space in the design plans for including a larger bathroom. Here is an illustration of a bathroom that includes a washer and dryer, freeing up precious space for creating a more spacious bathroom that would otherwise have to be reserved for a separate laundry area:

What are the consequences of insufficient clear floor space?

The most common “side effects” of insufficient bathroom Clear Floor Space are as follows:

Person Must Exit Backwards! If a person can enter the bathroom using a walker or wheelchair, but can not turn around when inside, then they’ll be forced to exit the bathroom moving backwards. It is neither easy (nor safe) for a person using a walker to walk backwards out of a room, nor is it easy for a person using a wheelchair to try to open and close a bathroom door when it’s positioned behind them.

No Privacy! If there isn’t enough clear floor space to allow the door to swing closed while the walker or wheelchair is positioned inside, then the person will be forced to use the toilet, bathtub, or shower with the bathroom door wide open.

Can’t Use the Bathroom at All! If the floor space present between the bathroom fixtures is too narrow, a person using a walker or wheelchair won’t be able to pass through. Hence, they could be entirely blocked from accessing the toilet, sink, or shower and consequently relegated to sponge baths at the kitchen sink and using a portable-style potty that they have to ask someone else to empty.

Obviously none of the above scenarios is ideal, so the more clear floor space you include in the design plans the better. Being able to use the bathroom is crucial in independent living, and sufficient clear floor space is a critical ingredient. It is, therefore, always preferable to overshoot in providing floor space – than undershoot … and end up being unable to use the bathroom altogether!

To get inspired and discover more about Accessible Bathrooms, follow these links: